Manufacture of matches.



Patented 111111.28, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q al

J. A. E. CRISWELL.

MANUFAGTURE 0F MATCHES.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED JULY s, 1905. 988,253.

, 9 @ma R1..

J. A. E. CRISWELL.

MANUFAGTURE 0F MATCHES.

APPLICATION PILLD JULY a, 1905.

Patented Marzs, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. A. E. CRISWELL.

MANUFAGTURE OF MATCHES.

APPLICATION IILLD JULY s, 1905.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

J. .1.3. GRISWELL. MANUPAGTURE 0F MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1905.

Patented 11131.28, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

S11/we 1110.,

M w We Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

:mams A. EKINCBISWELL, or NEW 'rosafm Y.

MaNurAcru'nn or MATCHES'. v

Speoicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar., 28v 191.1..`

kpplieation tiled Iuly 8, 1905.- SeraLNo. 268,783

State of New York,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Matches, of which the following is a full, clear, and' exact. description.

This inventionrelates to the manufacture of matches, and more particularly to the general character of invention disclosed in my pending application, Sr. No. 40,548, tiled December 20th, 1900. The main object of the invention is to provide a simpleand, eiiicient method and apparatus for manufacturing matches, the

material for which is first reduced to a pulpy or plastic condition, and to produce them in such a way that the matchesmay be made automatically and continuously.

A further object of the invention is to utilize cheap material, or material that ordinarily goes to waste in the manufacture of matches, and to so utilize the material that the matches will be strong, of a uniform quality, and will burn longer than the 0rdinary wood match, and oneach of which may be placed matter for advertising purposes.

With. these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and part-ly diagrammatic, of one form of apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the. mold cylinder or drum, taken on the line IIf-II of Fig. 3. Fig.\3 is a fragmentaryl transverse section of the drumor cylinder on a smaller scale than Fig. 2, and taken. on the line III-III of Fig. 2.. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.

'3, except that the grooves or molds-in the cylinder run lengthwise ofthe drum and.

transversely of the machine instead ocircumferentially ofthe drum, as shown in` Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 5 shows a different arrangement of the gauze or wirev apron that passes around the drum and collects the material in the tank 10. 6 is a perspective view of one of the completed matches. Figs. 7 to 10 Vshow different arrangements of apparatus for forming the match bodies. Figs. 11 and 12 show other means for making match bodies or stems. Figs. 13 to.y 15 show an apparatus for `formingjthel match bodies fromv two composite layerso material. Figs.. 16 to 18 show webs of different: forms of matchA bodies. Figs. ,19' andilshow means for makingY match bodies with inner s how other-means for making the match bodies.

tion into effect, it is to be understood that the construction and general arrangement of the apparatus mayl bev changed, and where paper-making pulpis employed, or material of asimilar character, I may use in connection with the apparatus shown, or separately,.any of t-he features of the machinery used, in connection with. paper or paperboard] making.

The-tank 10, Figs. 1 to 3, contains the material from which the match bodies areI to be'made.. This material may be of pulp from old waste, scraps, old printed newspapers, wood pulp, alone .or in,- combination, and which may be in a pulpy condition similar to that from which paper or paper board is made. A mold cylinder 11 is rotatably held within thel tank 10 and isadaptedA to collect the material on its outer surface as is usual, though: insteadof collecting the material so as to form a layer of wet pulp, the said cylinder is especially constructed for making aweb of match bodies. Each matchI bodyv or stem is distinctive and is substantially complete, and the webforms a series of long match splints or bodieswhich are united together by part ofl the material which is vmuch thinner in cross-section than the match bodies themselves. The cylinder 11 has a drum 12 protided with projections 13. These projections are spaced apart and form peripheral ribs around the drum, in order to provide as much open work between the ribs as possible, consistent with obtaining the desired strength, and in the drum 12 are aperturesor openings providing a ready -means for the escape of the water with which the pulp is combined. On the outside of the ribs'or projections 13 is a band or cylinder 14 which is secured to, or formed integrally with the projections 13 of the drum 12. This band or cylinder 14 is provided with circumferential grooves or molds 15, which are spaced apart according to the spacing it is desired to have the match cores, and Figs. 21 and 22- bodies, and which conform to the shape it is desired to have said bodies. These molds or depressions -15 have smaller grooves 16 which extend around the cylinder and at the bottom of the molds or depressed portions, and

said grooves 16 are made to communicate with each other by means of grooves 17 .which extend transversely of the grooves 16.

The band or cylinder 14C is-perforated or provided with apertures 18 which communicate with the ymolds or depressed portions 15 for the match bodies, and which also communicate with the open space between the projections 13 of thev drum 12, so that any water or other liquid which passes into the grooves or molds 15 will find ready means for escape through the cylinder mold. A-

band 19 of wire-gauze, woven wire, or a thin perforated plate, corresponding in shape to the depressed portions or molds 15, extends around the outer surface of the cylinder and lies close a ainst the surface Aofl the circumferential mol s and forms afsublstantially smooth surface over the grooves 16 and 17 and openings 18. This band or covering of gauzeor woven wire 19 receives tains the material within the depressed porf tions, so that during the rotation of thecylinder 11 a thick layer of the material will ybe deposited on the 'peri hery of the cylinv der with itsunder sur ace conforming to the contour ofthe circumferential depressed portions or molds 15. The purposel of constructing the cylinder as shown and de'- scribed, is to make it as strong and light as possible, consistent with giving `1`free egress `to the water combined with the pulp which` is removed from the material during the process of malng the match bodies. By constructing the cylinder, according to the method disclosed, the match bodies are partially formed by the cylinder device during its rotation, and the cylinder permits pressure to be applied thereto, to partially or wholly complete thev match bodies.A

The form and shape of the match bodiesmay vary and may be round, square, trian lar, or any other shape, and -where said bo ies are square or triangular, for example, the cylinder 11 may be made to form substantially thel whole of the match bodies, while in makin round match bodies, for exam le, the mo d cylinder only forms substantially one-half of the bodies, as shown best in Fig. 2. In this latter case the upper half of the match bodies are formed by rollers which press directly against the cylinder 11, and are preferably grooved to form the upper half of the match bodies, the material being sufficiently plastic to permit the said rolls while pressing against the cylin der 11 to cause the material to enter thedepressed portions or grooves of the rolls, and thereby form match bodies united together by a film or connection of less thickness than the cross-section of the match bodies.

As shown in Fig. 1, there are two pressure rolls, a 'roll 2O having circumferential grooves 21 forming molds for the upper half of the match bodies, and a roll 22 in advance of the roll `20. The-roll'22 presses the match bodies preliminarily, while the roll 20 exerts a eater pressure on the match bodies. AdJacent to the roll 22 is a scraper 23, and against the roll 22 and cyl-v inder. 15 lare similar devices 24 which enter thedepressed portions or molds of said rolls,

to prevent the match from Vadhering to said rolls and to guide and causethem to pass A between the pressure rolls 25 and 26.v There may be any number of sets of pressure rolls .such as shown at 25 and 26 for the purpose of giving the proper compactness to the.

match bodies or stems. rlhe match bodiesv 'after passing to the rolls 26 are suflicently,y

compressed andfrom there pass around the usual form of hollow steam drying rolls .28, or through'any other form of drier to. dry the match bodies and to prepare them for completing the matches.` As a means for completing the matches, various forms-of .apparatus may be employed,lwhether of .the 5 usual form, or such as disclosed -in my Patrl ent No.'716,822, dated December 23, 1902, or any other 'of my patents of the same date. The web of match bodies before beingV cut may have advertising or other matter printed upon the surface thereof as indicated by the printing roll 30, and from the printing roll the web passes to an assembling Ina-- chine 30a, which cuts the web lengthwise of the match bodies andv between the same to form long match bodies, and these bodies are cut transversely to form complete splints or 4stems. If the match bodies lie close together they may be further separated as in the l-patents referred to, and are forced into a carrier- 31 of the usual or any preferred construction. rlhe carrier 31 is of the endless type, and after receiving-the splints the latter pass to the heating, paratiining and composition devices 31aof the usual or of any preferred form, and are then held a suilicient length of time for'the match heads t9 dry, as,l

is usual. Before the matches again reach the assembling machine they are ejected by a device 32 into the boxes or on to a travel- .ilo

ing apron 33 for gboxing. It will thus be seen that material reduced to a pulp or pulpy state may be made into match bodies, and theA matches completed automatically and continuously.

- In ig. 4 the molds or depressed portions 35 lofthe-cylinder 1l, instead of extending circumferentially around the cylinder, ex-

, tendfi'n la direction parallel with the, shaft A5-3of-thecylinder, so'that the match bodies Vmo1ds'36 or the pressure roll 20 are similarly formed to make the other half of the match bodies. f When, however, the match bodies are-Square, triangular or of'like shape, the

roll maybe made lentirely smooth, and the-entire'math' bodies-formed on the cylinder 11, with or without the film, according; to the spacing of the molds or depressed port-ions 35. The match bodies, whether formed'ina web or .not by reason of the spacingof the molds, may be made into complete'vmatches in the usual or in any preferred' way, `and in any case may bev made 1in-continuous machines, or the match stems lmade andmatches completed by inde- :pendent-means.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 differs from that of Fig. 11, in that the band of woven wire or vother material 19, which surrounds the cylinder 11, instead of being secured tothe outer surface thereof, is made to pass around the rolls 37 'and 38, then around the cylinder to collect the material for the'match bodies. tThe material may be compressed while on the cylinder 11 or while on the flexible band or, other material 19 as desired.l .A

Fig. 6 shows a completey match with a round body, though the form of the stem or body'w'ill vary accordi-Iig tothe shape of the mold orthe' means for producing the bodies. The'apparatus' in Fig. 7 shows how the matchbodies may be made from separate or independent." webs, so,- that the inner part mayvbe'of one material and the outer covertates, may be of a cheap class such as oldnewspapers, scraps, etc., which may befcompressed on the cylinder suiicient-ly to make thematch .bodies stiff and rigid, though there may be mixed with the material any suitable substance fo'r assisting in hardening the material whether in the tank 40 or on the-cylinderas found most desirable.- The Webof cores formed by the cylinder 39 and the pressure rolls connected therewith, has material'such Vas flour, starch,'or the like, supplied to the surface -thereof when needed, by a receptacle 42, and of the-web of cores 41,

ing" ofthe same `or of different material.

on the oppositesidesare the webs 43 and '44.- These webs 43 and 44 may be made by the usual form of paper-making machines,

V and' from any of the materials from which paper may or can be-made, so as to be-collected on the cylinders 45 and couched onto the felt's 46, and then formed into Awebsby means of sets of rolls 47. These rolls compress the material while on each felt 46 just enough to form a web, and both webs are then caused to pass forward and are united together and to the cores 41 by means of the grooved or fluted rolls 48,130 form -a web of match bodies having inner cores-49 and -anf outer cover 50, connected together by filmv or port-ion 51, as shown in Fig. 8. The web of match bodies in this case is separated into complete cores by means ofthe cutters 52,

and over the web 43 is a receptacle 53 from 1 which flour or starch may be spread over the web 43 in order to assist in causing the-webs to more readily unite together. Instead of the Hour or starch covering the surface, the cores may-have any suitable hardening substance applied thereto, as paste, copperas,'or other material, to assist in stii'ening the match bodies when the match bodies 'are dried; and instead of the webs 43 and 44 being smooth they may conform tothe shape of the cores 49. The webs may be passed through a drying apparatus to partially or wholly dry them `'before beingunited together, or .they may be in any other condition most convenient for forming or-=unit ing the webs together.

In Fig. 9, the match bodiesv are formed: from two ywebs 54 and 55vby devices 56 and' 57 similar to that shown in Figs.-1 and 2, f

v l a..

except that one surface of the web ismade smooth by reason ofthe shape of the pressure rolls 58. The webs 54 and 55 are made' I t0 pass insuch a way that the smooth surface of the two webs will be opposed to each other, so that when brought together and.

passed between the rolls 59 they will be united together. If desired or necessary a receptacle 60 may be provided for discharging a glutinous substance over the surfaceof web 55, in order to cause-the two webs tounite, and the material may' be of such a'.

character that-when the webs are united the.

match bodies will be stiff and rigid.

Fig. 10 shows how a central core of long fibrous material not in a' pulpy condition may be'employed, which is coated on the outside with plastic material whether of paper-making pulp or of any other suitable material -in a plastic or semi-plastic condition. -Thecores may be made from a sheet of wood veneer 61, long strands or filaments of woody material, shredded wood, excelsior,V

bagasse, straw, dried plants or other Inaterial, which may be chemically or mechanically treated if desired and united or not with a suitable binder. The web of material -61 passes between the fluted orl grooved rolls 62 so as to form cores forgthe match bodies according to the shape the stems or bodies are to have when nished. The material after leaving the rolls 62 may be in the nature of webs, or separate cores as desired, and is fed between felts 68 and 64. These felts may be the parts of a papermaking machine for collecting the pulp or other material as already described, on the outer surface of which the material is couched as usual, so that when the felts are caused to travel in the direction indicated by the arrows, it will cause the material, in a plastic condition, to form a layer on the opposite sides of the cores. llthe material between the felts may be compressed while supported by the latter, and the entire match web of match bodies may be made into complete matches inthe usual or any preferred way. l

ln Fig. 11 the material whether of papermaking pulp, ground plant or plant products as sunflowers or cotton seed refuse combined or alone for the match bodies is collected on to an endless flexible apron 66 which is provided with depressions 67 according to the 'form it is desired to have the match stems. This endless apron may be a thin metallic plate or plates, woven wire, or combination of materials, and is preferably of such a nature that all moisture may be' compressed out of the material. rlhe apron 66 is fed over a roll 68 which has teeth entering between the recessed portions of the apron 66 so as to support the latter on all sides, and above the roll 68 and apron 66 is a pressure roll 69 which compresses the material as the apron passes between the rolls and forms the match bodies. lnstead of the bodies extending transversely of the web they may extend longitudinally thereof, or the match bodies in this and the other views shown may be made complete in the first instance without being joined together in the form of a web.

In Fig. 12 is shown an endless belt 70 made by a series of distinct sections hinged together so. as to form an endless chain. The

construction of each link may be substantially the same as' the construction of the cylinder 11 of. Fig. 1in order to permit the water or other liquid to readily pass through the chain and into a box or other receptacle 71. The material as any of the grains ground and combined or not with papermaking pulp, or the latter alone 'may be gathered to the surface of the endless chain, or the material may be collected by passing through the liquid pulp. The material after being collected on the endless chain' may be compressed by the pressure rolls 7 3 and 74 by the passage of the belt 70 therebetween so as to form the match bodies in a manner similar to that described in connection with Fig. l, and the matches may be then completed in any preferred manner.

eeaese rlFhe match bodies may be made by a modified form of paper or paper board machine such as shown in Fig-18. rlhe parts A and B are each intended to make one-half of the web of match bodies, and are identical in construction, and each represent apart of paper-making machine with the felts moving in opposite directions. A description of part A will answer for part B. The pulp tank has the usual cylinder 76 with its fine wire cover for collecting the pulp which is couched on to the felt 7 7 by the roll 78. A second cylinder mold 79 rotates in a pulp tank 80,and in said tank 80 may be the same quality of material as in tank 75, although the material in tank 75 maybe of a better quality by reason of the fact that it will form the coating or outside cover of the match bodies. rlhe layer of pulp while on the felt passes between the pressure rolls 81 and 82, the former being grooved so as to form one-half lof the match bodies as shown. The other half of the match bodies from the part B, which have been similarly made and formed as in part A, unite with the half of the match bodies formed by the part A as they move between the rolls 81. Additional pressure and compression may be given the match bodies by means of the set of rolls 83, the match bodies being then taken and the matches completed as already described. To prevent the material from adhering to the rolls 81, an endless wire gauze 84 may be made to pass around said rolls and to enter the grooves thereof ,to form the bodies properly as shown in dotted lines at 84 in part B of the machine.

ln Figs. 14 and 15, the rolls 84 and 85 are similar to rolls 81 and 82 except that the grooves forming the moldI for the match bodies are circumferential instead of extending parallel to the shaft of the rolls as in Fig. 13. rlfhe rolls 84 will form one-half of the match bodies in a web as in Fig. 16, or as separate matchbodies, according to the spacing between the grooves and the distance between the pair of rolls forming the set. Where the bodies are triangular or rectangular as in Figs. 17 -and 18, the entire match bodies may be formed by one set of rolls instead of two sets as in Fig. 18.

ln Figs. 19 and 20, the match bodies are formed with central cores. 'lhe cores 86 may be formed by the rolls 87- of any suitable material, as any of the fruits or vegetables or vegetable matter dried and ground and chemically or mechanically treated and united or not with paper-making pulp, or they may be in the nature of twisted fibrous material, as cotton and the like whichl are fed as a web or as independent cores between the rolls 88 which are similar to the roll 84 of Fig. 14. Dried and ground bananas, spoiled fruits treated with chemicals, or vegetables, as potatoes likewise treated may vwith is a band or apron of flexible material 94, such as Wire gauze, which has depressed portions or molds to form the match bodies, and'each collects the material as they move with the cylinder 93 as in paper-making.

The bands or aprons 94 pass around wheels suitable glutinous or reslnous substance.

or drums 95 and in the direction indicated vby the arrows, and are brought in closerelation so as to form complete match bodies. The material held by the aprons 94 may pass betvveii' the pressure rolls 96 and 97, and the match bodles may be partly formed by the rotation of the cylinder.93 and completed by the pressure rolls and the drums 95. The tank 98 has the usual cylinder 99 rotating therein, and around the cylinder passes a smooth apron or belt of Wire 100. The apron will collect the material from the tank 98 in the usual Way so as to provide a Wet layer, and immediately above the cylinder 99 is a drum 101 which has depressed portions or molds 102 according to the form of the match splints to be made, and into which molds the soft material is forced as said drum 101 moves in the direction indicated.

The layer of material will thus be forced into the mold grooves 102 and the latter transferred to said drum, and if desired a steam or air jet 103 may be provided to assist in-removing the layer orany material from the apron to the drum 101. As the drum continues to rotate, the material .will be compressed into the mold grooves by the rolls 104, so that the match bodies or web of match bodies will be made. The collecting cylinder in this and the other views may have. the usual or any preferred form of suction device to assist in causing the layer of material to be collected on the cylinder, apron, or in the molds and to draw off the water as it passes within the cylinder. In this case the water is drawn 0E centrally of the cylinder by a device 105, which may be connected to a pump or other device.

It will be seen from the foregoing that cheap material, or material that ordinarily goes to Waste may be employed in the manufacture of matches: that matches may be made continuously and automatically either in Whole or in part of plastic material, and the match bodies properly spaced apart so as to require no further separation for heading and completing the same; that matches of various shapes and of a distinctive character may be made; that various materials whether of themselves inammable or not may' be used; that the matches may be variously colored and on each of which may be placed advertising matter, and that by making the matches as herein described, a strong article o'f uniform quality is produced, Which Willv burn longer and better than the ordinary form of wood match.

The materials or any of them may be chemically or mechanically treated, and to any of them may be added singly or in combination sulfur, saltpeter, paste, copperas, and the like; and Where necessary or desirable, I may employ as a binder, Where a long fibrous material is used, lucose, glue, rosin, lime, Hour, plaster of aris, or any ma be made in a layer and then into match bo ies. If paper-making materials are used the layer may be made so that it might be further compressed to form the match bodies.

-It may be madevinto a soft layer of paper of the proper thickness which will absorb readily other material and the layer may then be compressed into match bodies. The matches may be completed as usual or entirely automatically or may be coiled as by a machine substantially as shown in my application Sr. No. 37,716, filed Nov. 26, 1900.

Various changes in the apparatus and method may be made Without departing from the character of the invention; and instead of using the rolls for compressing the material in the molds, if desired some form of reciprocating devices may be employed.

It will be understood that at any stage of the making of the matches, I may add paraffin, crude petroleum, or may add rosin, saltpeter, or other chemicals independently or mixed with others, when it is desirable to make the match splints burn more readily; and it .is further understood that the matches may be made in the form of match cards or in any other suitable form.

The match bodies may be made of several Webs of the materials which are soft enough to be compressed into the desired shape to form match stems; or there may be Webs of different density in which the inner web may be harder than the outer. If desired cotton in the nature of a web may be incorporated with the other material, and might be used as it comes from the usual carding engine.

By the term paper as applied, it is to be understood that it is used in its broadest sense and includes any thickness whether what is technically called paper board or not, and that paper-pulp is intended to include any of the materials from which paper can or may be made.

Having thus described my 1nvent1on,what

other oils; or IA relation v with I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In the manufacture of matches, the

method which consists in collecting a web of wet paper-making pulp in a web like form, and compressing the web while soft and directly forming the match splints.

2. In the manufacture of matches, the method which consists in collecting papermaking pulp, and while soft compressing said material directly into match splints.

3. In the manufacture of matches, the method which consists in taking wet pulp and while soft forming it into a'l web having solid distinctive match ribs or splints extending lengthwise thereof and in parallel gether by a part of the same material but of less thickness than the .match splints, and then cutting the web to form complete splints. y s

'forming distinctive each other and connected to- A i 4.' In the manufacture of matches, the' method which consists in taking and forming by compression while in a soft condition pulp so as to make a web having distinctive ribs or match splints connected together by the same material but of less thickness, then cutting the web between the splints land transversely thereof to form complete splints.

5. In the manufacture of matches, the method which consists in taking a web of wet paper-making pulp in a web-like form,

compressing the web while soft and directly and clearly defined long match splints connected together by a film ofthe same material .but of less thickness,

'and then cutting the web into completel match splints.

' J. A. EKIN CRISWELL.

Witnesses:

M. TURNER,

A. (ELEMENTS. 

